PURPOSE: To prevent frequent generation of a busy shift and a speed change shock by commanding a downshift to a one-step lower speed change shift from a specific speed change shift by judging the downshift and a two-step lower downshift only at the time of satisfying a predetermined condition after the lapse of a timer.

CONSTITUTION: When a speed change is judged to perform a downshift to a speed change shift by two steps lower from a specific speed change shift, first a downshift is commanded to a speed change shift by one step lower than the specific speed change shift simultaneously starting a timer. Constitution is provided so as to output a downshift command to the lower speed change shift only when a predetermined condition is satisfied after the lapse of the timer. As a result, for instance, when an accelerator is stepped in by intending a downshift by one step lower by a driver, the condition after this predetermined time is not satisfied, so that an automatic transmission is stopped in a speed change shift lowered by one step from the specific speed change shift. Further, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the downshift to the lower speed change shift can be performed.